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All-Over Animal and Floral Carpet: The carpet Museum of Iran
The All-Over Animal and Floral Carpet, a 17th-century masterpiece from Tabriz, exemplifies the rich artistry of Persian rug weaving. Now housed in the Carpet Museum of Iran, this rug features intricate designs depicting wildlife, trees, and symbolic motifs, blending Persian and Chinese influences. Its technical excellence includes a silk warp, cotton weft, and wool pile, with a high knot density of 489,600 knots per square meter. This exquisite piece reflects Persian storytelling and craftsmanship, making it a significant artifact for collectors and historians alike.
All-Over Animal and Floral Carpet: A Masterpiece of 16th-Century Persian Weaving
The All-Over Animal and Floral Carpet is a 16th-century Persian masterpiece, likely from Isfahan, and is now part of the Österreichisches Museum für angewandte Kunst (MAK) in Vienna. Measuring 185 x 120 cm, this fragment represents one-eighth of the original rug and remains well-preserved, apart from areas affected by dye mordants.
With an impressive knot density of 515,900 knots per square meter, the rug features a yellow silk warp, double weft of light brown silk, and a fine wool pile. Its intricate design showcases mythical and natural motifs, including a lion battling an ox, a leopard, a dragon, and a deer, set among palmettes and floral patterns. The three-band borderfeatures medallions, cloud bands, and arabesques, reflecting Safavid-era artistic excellence.
This carpet is a testament to Persian craftsmanship, embodying the rich artistic heritage of Safavid Persia, making it a treasured piece for collectors, historians, and art enthusiasts.
The Exquisite Animal Carpet of Isfahan
The 16th-century Isfahan Animal Carpet, housed in the Carpet Museum of Iran, is a masterpiece of Persian craftsmanship. Measuring 233 x 168 cm, it features 30,400 Persian knots per sq. meter, with a raw silk warp, beige cotton weft, and wool pile. The design showcases harmoniously arranged animal motifs, all facing the same direction, contrasted by geometric cartouches in the border. This balance between movement and structure reflects the elegance of Safavid-era weaving, making it a timeless representation of Persian artistry.
The Magnificent Silk Animal Carpet
The Silk Animal Carpet, woven in Isfahan in the late 17th century, is an exquisite masterpiece reflecting the pinnacle of Persian craftsmanship. Measuring 233 x 168 cm, this carpet features a vibrant design of animals inspired by Safavid-era miniatures, dynamically placed across a floral background. Its intricate border of intertwining flowers and birds adds to its elegance.
With a remarkable density of 600,000 knots per square meter, the carpet’s silk pile and unbleached cotton foundation highlight the weaver’s precision and artistry. Now housed in the Carpet Museum of Iran, Tehran, two similar pieces reside in the prestigious Louvre Museum in Paris, cementing its status as an enduring symbol of Persian heritage and artistic brilliance.
Silk Animal Carpet: Another Masterpiece of Isfahan Weavers.
The Silk Animal Carpet, crafted in Isfahan during the late 16th century, is a stunning example of Persian artistry, currently preserved at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Measuring 124 x 109 cm, this rug boasts an impressive 1,287,000 knots per square meter, woven with yellow silk warp, double silk weft, and silk pile.
Its intricate design features a vibrant array of flowers and foliage, with four wild beasts attacking their prey and five other animals standing independently. The border is adorned with daisies, leaves, pomegranates, lion heads, and arabesques, highlighting Persian symbolism and meticulous craftsmanship.This carpet is part of the esteemed collection of “animal carpets,” known for their exceptional fineness and historical value, making it a timeless treasure of Persian weaving.
A Masterpiece carpet in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
This stunning Persian carpet from Kashan, crafted in the late 16th century, showcases exquisite artistry and craftsmanship. Measuring 258 x 179 cm, it features a silk warp, weft, and pile with an impressive knot density of 921,600 knots per square meter.
The design elegantly combines motifs of animals and flowering shrubs, distinguished by its meticulous execution. Its intricate borders include floral patterns, cloud bands, and large palmettes surrounded by birds, possibly pheasants.
Previously part of Benjamin Altman’s collection, this rare masterpiece stands as a remarkable testament to Persian textile artistry, now preserved in one of the world’s most prestigious museums.
The Majestic Hunting Carpet of the Österreichisches Museum
The Hunting Carpet, woven in the Imperial Factory of Central Persia in the 16th century, is a breathtaking example of Persian craftsmanship. Now housed in the Österreichisches Museum für angewandte Kunst (MAK) in Vienna, this luxurious silk carpet features an extraordinary 1,274,000 knots per square meter, making it one of the most finely woven carpets in history.
Its intricate design showcases a central star motif, surrounded by floral patterns, mythical creatures, and an elaborate hunting scene. Persian noblemen, armed with bows, lances, sabers, and clubs, pursue 157 wild animals, including lions, panthers, antelopes, and boars, all set against a rich salmon-colored background. The border features a frieze of flowers, birds, and human figures, symbolizing continuity and tradition.
Believed to be crafted during the reign of Shah Tahmasp I (1524–1576) and designed by Sultan Mohammed, the carpet was possibly taken as booty by Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I after the failed Siege of Vienna in 1683. Its exquisite craftsmanship and historical significance make it one of the world's most celebrated Persian carpets.
All-Over Animal and Floral Carpet at the Österreichisches Museum für angewandte Kunst, Vienna
This magnificent Persian carpet, crafted in Central Persia during the mid-16th century, is a highlight of the Österreichisches Museum für angewandte Kunst (MAK) in Vienna. Measuring 760 x 325 cm, it features an impressive knot density of 495,000 knots per square meter, woven with silk warp, silk weft, and wool pile.
The design is divided into four identical sections filled with elegant arabesques, cloud bands, and lush floral patterns. Among the intricate foliage, fierce confrontations between animals—lions, tigers, antelopes, and more—are vividly depicted, symbolizing nature’s beauty and chaos.
This carpet stands as a remarkable example of Persian craftsmanship, reflecting the artistic sophistication of the Safavid era and continuing to captivate art enthusiasts around the world.